Laundry machine



Oct. l1, 1932. o. H. HULLINGS LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed March 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zza Wg/4. f

XIS 9 W Oct. 11,1932.4 o. H. HULLINGS 1,882,284

LAUNRY MACHINE Filed March 14,l 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5d ffz 2251671 zza Jzz z 117 Zia/wey Patented Oct. 11, 1932 PATENT OFFICE OTIS YH..HTU'LIINGrSg OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA "LAUNDRYV MACHINE Application :1%d' Marcl1J 14; 1928. Serial N0. 261,468.

This Y ,inventionw appertains i to :improvements in methods and means for. carrying out laundry operations generally,and more particularly the operations of; large capacity 5 public service l'aundries.

An object of the' invention; is'toyprovide for a method: and means'whichwill expedite and otherwise facilitate such: i operations 1 `by permittingof the .eifectiveiand efficient washing, rinsing, extracting and drying of acomparatively large. numbery of individual bundles or groups of Aarticles to be. laundered in one substantially continuous'cycle ofoperation, whereinthe actual handling. ofi the articles is avoided throughout aa'. given or particular operation, and theusualY counting and sorting of the 'nidividualrwashed and dried articles is avoided, thus reducing toA a minimum the number of persons usually re- Y quired for an average Vlaundry operation, and thereby effecting. an appreciable saving in the otherwise excessive overhead expenses obtaining in known methods andmeans, now employed in large capacity publia-service laundries.

Y Another obj ect.. of theinvention isV to provide the method and means as aforesaid, wherein a comparatively largenumber f individual bundles or groups .of;articles tobe launderedrmay be washed and rinsed, either in mixed bulkor in their originallygrouped state, in one continuous-cycle of operation.

,A further object of the invention is to provide a means for the reception ofnan yindividual 'group ofnarticlesto be laundered, in which the several articles of theifroup will be placedfrom` the original package, received from a: householder or; other customer, and in which the-articles *will* beretained throughout, a complete washing, rinsing, extracting andV drying 'operation as aforesaid, and from which, in vthe case-of so-called dry or damp washes,zthe. articles will be removed and'repackaged for 'delivery back to the householder :or vother customer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a numberrof the means ordevices vas hereinbefore characterized, and which are of a construction and arrangement, f whereby afterhavingbeen loaded :or lled, .eachiwith one. of. arcorresponding number of individual i -ffgroups of articles tofbe laundered, theyfmay ffbereadilyand easily nestedl in anumber of equally divided and-separated groupsg'then transported in their entirety to a washingfapf.` paratus` or'machine, and afterwards; trans- L ferred to and nested in they same grouped .arxrangement within the movable or rota-ting Y. element of the apparatus or machine; then,

uponthev completionof the washing andzrins-A ying operation ofthe contents thereof, re- "moved, and Arenested in their equally grouped formation, and transportedto the water extracting apparatus or machine,` and afteriwards transferred toand nested by individiualgroups into the'latter; then, upon the completion of the'water extracting operation, #removed from the extracting apparatus or machine and transportedin their equally grouped formationto a drying apparatusorv ff tumblerpinto the movable or rotatingelement .ofwhich ythey will vbe ysubsequently nested' in 'thev same. grouped. formationl as ,when positionedin the similar movable or rotatingiele- V:ment of the washing, and rinsing apparatus or machine; and then, after the drying operation has beencompletedremoved fromthe ydryingapparatus or tumbler; and Y transe ported, in the same nested group formation,

.toitheplace of packaging and delivery, inethel caseofdry or damp wash service, or to 1 ther place of. finishing, i as. bystarching and ironingthe several articles ofeach individual 'group, in the case-ofrfcompletely finished laundry service.

Another object of the :invention is Vto yprov:vide washinganddrying drums forcertain of the knownmakes and types of washing and drying apparatus or vmachines, Afwhich lwill 'readily adapt such; apparatus ori-:mafchines for the particular uses as hereinbefore v` sta-ted for the' same, and which are vof ,a comparatively simple .and inexpensive but dur- .f ableyand eflicient construction,V and arrangement of parts, wherein the means or devices,V :as aforesaid, may bev -readily and easily y vplaced maand-removed fromfope'rativeffpositions'therein in the nested vmanner as :before indicated fory the same.

. Affurtherobj ect of the invention is to :pro-

vide a slightly modified form of rotor for known makes or types of centrifugal moisture or water extracting apparatus or machines, which will readily adapt the same for the desired nesting therein of a number of the individual wash containing means or devices aforesaid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for a means or device of the character as hereinbefore set forth, and one in the form ofa reticulated or open mesh container for an individual wash, and which, when employed in a rotating cylinder or drum of either a washing apparatus or a drying machine or tumbler, in accordance with the various objects and purposes of the invention, gives ready access to its contents of the washing or rinsing solutions or waters, on the one hand, or Vthe drying air currents, on the other hand, and, at the saine time acts to subject its contents to a tumbling movement over the several side walls forming a part of the same, in its first instance of use,

and to loosen up and slightly separate the several articles of which its contents may be constituted, in itssecond instance ofuse,Vv

lwhereby the articles will be thoroughly cleansed, rinsed and dried.

A further object of the invention isrto provide that, in carrying out the hereinloefore described continuous washing, rinsing, extracting and drying of a predetermined number of groups'ofarticles `or fabrics in each cycle of operation of the several apparatuses or machinesemployed forfthe pur-` pose, additional groups of articlesiorfabrics will be successively'placed withinthe washing apparatus or machineimmediately upon rics and the transportation of theasarne tothe removal therefrom ofl the previously washed and rinsed groups of articles orV fabthe other of the several apparatuses orinachines in the stated sequenceof. their opera-- "tion, so that at no time will anyone or more of the 'latter be idle from the'start` of an initial cycle of operation? lto theV completion of the laundering of a particular orl given v'number of groups` of articles orfabricsto be laundered, or until a predetermined orgiven time yperiod has elapsed,where'by'an.`

appreciable saving in timeand labor is effected,notronly in a single cycle'of opera-K tion, but throughout eachl vdaily run or operation of the apparatuses or machines;y

solution or suds von the groups of previously l washed articles, such as wouldoccur in'the `0ld method of operation of washing machines whereinV the used solution or suds is discharged from the latter prior to admitting fresh rinsing waterl thereto, which elimination is accomplished in a manner that the used solution or suds is gradually forced out of the machine and from the washed articles by admitting rinsing water to the machine immediately following a washing operation, thus leaving the articles in a semi-rinsed and much cleaner condition than would otherwise be the case and ready for a succeeding rinsingr operation upon the completel evacuation o the used washing solution or suds from the machine. y Y

`V`With the foregoing" and other equally important objects and advantages in View, the invention resides, in part, in the certain new Vand useful combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts, and in the method aforesaid, as will be hereinafter more fully described, set-forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in theY accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sec- .tion through aV rotating cylinder oiudrum type of washing apparatus or machine, showing the cylinder or drum in elevation and the article containers in nested relation thereon, y

vFigure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the washing apparatus or machine with the article containers removed from the cylinder or drum thereof, i

Figure 3 is a section similar to that of Figure 2, but showing the article containers in nested position within the rotating cylinder or drum,

Figure 4; is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of adjacent ,hinged portions or sections l of the securing means for retaining the article containers in position within a cylinder or drum, and the locking means for locking theportions or sections together,

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of ,the fragmentary detail as shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section througha drying apparatus or tumbler, with the rotating cylinder or drum thereof in side elevation, and showing the article containers in nested position therein, e

Figure? is a vertical transverse section of the same,

VFigure 8 isy a perspective view of one of the articleicontainers per se, e -Figurel9 is'an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the upper or outer side of an article "container, showing the article agitating member or' rib and carrier handle thereof, Y,

Figure 10 is a vertical section through the centrifugal moisture or Vwater extracting machine, showing a set or group of the article containers nested therein.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding-parts throughout the several correlated views thereof, andmore particularly to Figures l to 10 thereof, the cylinder or drum structures forbothof the washing machine,

as shown .Figures 1 to .8 inclusive, and "the" l`stituted in circulan end platesfor walls 101:I and intermediate partition plates or walls those for Vthe cylinder or drum structure for,l

102, which are' coupled together in. equidistantly spaced relation by radially'disposed and longitudinally extending partition'walls 103, the latterfbei'ngrpreferably three -innunr and partition walls,and arranged inequidistantly spaced,l angular relation, Vorone `liundredand twenty degrees (120) apart.

Projecting outwardly from the opposite end plates or lwalls 101-are supporting shafts 104, which are suitably'journalled in bearings 105 carriedby the opposite end walls 106 of `each of the washing and tumbler machine casings 107 and 108. As shown: in'` Figure 2, the circular intermediate partition-plates orvwalls 102 of the cylinder or drum structure for theA washing machine (Figures 1 to 3 inclusive) are preferably reticulated, as at 1109, while the drying machine or tumbler (Figures G and 7 are preferably solid. In both of the cyl-v inder or drum structures, the radial partitions'103 are solid.

lVith the arrangement of the circular end andl intermediate plates or partition walls 101 and 102, and the radial plates or walls 103, each cylinderor drum, so-'co'nstructed, will provide for a plurality of compartments,

preferably three in' number'in each space -therebetween and ineach of these several compartments an articley receiving container or basket 110 is to be removably positioned or seated. As" shown, .these containers or baskets 110 will be of sector form corresponding to the shape of the several compart ments of each cylinder or drum', and will have their several Awalls preferably -made from heavy gauge `open mesh wiresecured to a shape retaining andreinforcing metal framelll. One angular side wall 112 (Figure 8.) of each'of the containers or brackets 110 will preferablybe formed. separate from the remainder of thestructure and hinged, as at 113, at the lower or inner longitudinal edge of theopen side of the latter to function as a closure, and suitable fastenings 114e will be provided at its upper longitudinal edge tok secure the same in closed position.

Extending longitudinally of the outer curved wall of each containerA or basket 110 v and centrally therof, is an inwardly directed.

stantially rover its entire area. The opposite longitudinal sides of the member or rib 115 are preferably flanged, as at 116, to have ad` jacentV portions of the outer wall fabric secured thereto by means of the fastenings or vrivets 117. A handle 118, preferably in the form of a suitable length of round metal rod,

`f110, as thus constructed, the same ar-e to be ber between each pair of adjacent end plates` `about the peripheral edges of the said plates or walls.- Each of these bands or straps will preferably be formed to provide sections 119 arranged in end to end relation and in pairs with adjacent ends of the same hinged toy gether, as at 119', and the hinge connections thereof secured to the outer edge of the longitudinal partition walls 103. rl `he intermediate of the band sections 119 will be of a width to project equally for a distance to either side of the intermediate of the circular partition walls 102 and sufficiently to overlap the adjacent end portions of the con tainers or gaskets 110 nested in adjacent coin-` partments, while the outer band sections will be of substantially less width and only suilicient to project inwardly from their encircling engagement about the end walls 101 to overlap the ends of the containers or baskets from such operative positions. Arranged on the outer face of. one of the latter ends ofone offthe sections 119 of each pair thereof is a lug` or the like 120, which is to be engaged by a latching member or open loop 121 operatively connected to the outer side of the other of the adjacent end sections of the same. rlhis member or loop 121 is hinged at its connected end, as at 122, to an intermediate portion of the outer side of an operating member or lever 123 which, in turn, is pivoted or hinged, as at 124. at one end tothe outer side of the band section 119 to which it is complemental.

When the band sections 119, of each pair of the same, are moved to container or basket retaining position, the free end of the latching member or loop 121 will be engaged over lug 120, and the lever 128 swung on its hinge :12a in a direction away from the split or space between the adjacent ends of the sections 119 and Vdownwardly against the outer face of the 'section 119 on which it is carried, so that the free end of the member or loop 121 will be drawn under the angled portion of the lug 120, in which position of the parts'v the sections will be securedand locked in their operative positions. r

The casing 107 will have an opening formed throughout its full length in its front and upper side, and of a suflicient area to permit of the quick and easy insertion of the v substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 3;

a handle, or handles, 126 being provided to facilitate its manipulation. It is to be noted that the lower edge ofthe opening will be disposed in a horizontal plane above the level of a maximum supply of washing fluid ori rinsing water to be admitted to the casing.

Formed longitudinally of the bottom wall of the casing 107 and opening into the same is a channel or trough, 127 which serves as a settling chamber for accumulations of dirt washed from clothes or the lilre'placed within the containers or baskets 110, land to catch such articles as may be present in the clot-hes through carelessness of the owners. Water isV to be supplied to the casing 107 preferably from its rear side and in the horizontal plane lof the axis of the drum through an inlet 128 connected to a lsuitable water supply not shown, while Vthe soap or other cleansing material to be added thereto. may be introduced thereto through the opening in the front side of the vcasing as aforesaid. lV ith the several compartments of the drum occupied by a corresponding number of loaded containers or baskets 107, and the washing fluid formed within the casing 107, suitable powerwill be applied to oneof the shaft sections 104 to impart the desired rotary or os# cillatory motion to the drum.v During the motion of the drum, and by reason of the segmental form of the containersl or basketsv 110, the articles to be washed therein will be subjected tol a tumbling movement over the entire area of the opposite side walls and the outer peripheral wall thereof in each complete revolution of the drum, vwhile the ribs 115 will act to jostle the articles in a manner to keep the same in a comparatively loose or separated condition, except when the articles or fabrics move to the leading radial wall portions of each of the containers or baskets 110, in each revolution of the cylinder or drum, and in the downward direction of movement thereof, when the articles or fabrics will be subjected to a squeezing action between these walls and prior to being again immersed in the washing solution or suds in the lower part of the casing 107. As

vthe drumrotat'es, the washing liuidv or rinsing water filling or gnearly filling the lower half portion of the-casing 107 will be successively scooped up by the solid longitudinalpartition walls 103, as each of these walls move in an upward direction within the casing 107, and pocketed within the compartments. This retained washing Huid or rinsing water willr be free to4 equally floodzthe several longitudinal sets of compartments, but will also be thrown outwardly Ithrough the articles or fabrics enclosed within the containers or baskets 110, during the upper half of each revolution of the drum, ,by the centrifugal force resulting'from the rotation `vof the latter. A-valve is provided inthe water supply line leading to the inlet`128 to control the water admitted through the latter to the casing 107.

In adapting a washing machine of the type set forth for the desired subsequent and continuous rinsing operation, immediately following the completion'cf a washing operatio-n, 'one or more outlets 129 will preferably be provided in one of the longitudinal side walls of the channel or trough 127, preferably in the forward of these walls, and stuifing boxes or the like 130 will be positioned on the outer ends of these outlets 129 to have angularly disposed discharge pipes vor spouts 131 connected thereto for verticalv swinging movements. The free ends of these pipes or spouts 131 will preferably be of angled formation to discharge the waste washing fluid or rinsing water to one side thereof. Thus, when the discharge pipes or spouts 131 are swung to their lowest position, which will place the dischargeends thereof below the level of the bottom wall of the channel or trough 127 the fluid contents. of the casing 107 will be completely drained therefrom.

Now, when the discharge pipes or spouts 131 are swung in an upward direction to any desired position or to full vertical position, the washing fluid or rinse water will be retained within the casing 107, and the depth of the fluid or .water to Vbe admitted tothe latter will be determined by the elevated position. of the discharge ends of the pipes or spouts'133, with respect to the 'outlets 129. A suitable indicator device 132 may be associated with the movable pipes or spouts 131 t? set the same at desired positions of opera ion. Y

The present invention contemplates the following method of operation of a washing machine as thus constructedand arranged, namely, that, with the casing devoid. of any fluid content, the discharge pipes or spouts.

the casing 107 at the inlet 128. Vhen ther depth of water has been reached within the casing 107, the fact. will beknown by the discharge` of water from the pipes or spouts 131, and thenvalve `will then be closed. If soap or other cleaning material lhas not 'pres viously been `mixed with thevwater initially admitted to the casing 107, a suiiicient amount of such material, will now be introduced to the water, and power applied to the drum for al preliminary agitation of the 'water toassure of the thorough mixing therewith .of the cleansing'a'gent. After the initial rotation of the drum, the same will be stopped and the articles or fabrics to be washed will then be placed within the cylinder, eitherin bulk, when an ordinary cylindero-r .drum is employed, oriin the individual-wash containers as hereinbefore explained. l/Vith the drum loaded, the `cover will be closed,

and power aga-in applied to the drum. f

Now, aftenav predetermined period of operation of the machine has been' permitted, the .article or fabricV contents of theA drum will be ready for rinsing, .and this is to be readily accomplished, withoutstopping the.

charge from the outlet lpipesorspouts 131 shows only-clear water being present within the casing. The clear water will be permitted to iow through the casing throughout a predetermined rinsing period, if desired, or when the discharge from the casing, at the outlet pipes or spouts 131, the valve may be intermittently opened and closed to allow intervals of non-flowing rinsing of the contents of the drum. The discharge of the used washing fluid may be facilitated after a washing operation, if desired, by swingingthe outlet pipes or spouts 131 to their lowest positions of movement, and, after the rinsing water shows clear in the discharge from the latter, the same may be again elevated.

After a washing and rinsing operation has been completed, the articles or fabrics, or the individual containers of the same, will be removed from the casing 107, and will be transported to the moisture or water extracting machine as shown in Figure 10, which comprises a casing 137, preferably of cylin drical form, which is supported in spaced relation above the ioor level on members or legs 138. Mounted for horizontal Vmovement within the casing 137 is a cylindrical receptacle 139, which is supported on the upper end of a sha-ft 140 extending upwardly through the bottom wall of the casing. The lower end of the shaft 140 is journalled in a heavy bearing 141 incorporated in a strengthening member or spider 142 extending between the supporting legs 138. A pul- 'ley 143 is keyed on the shaft 140 above the.

bearing 141,'and is operatively connectedto i a suitable source of power by means of a wraps,-

ping connectorf144. Y A removable cover-f145 1 is provided for the upper openend offthef casing y137 a justas they came-from the wash-ing machine, will be nested within the receptacle 139, and

thecover 145 placed; onthe open end: of the casing 137, when power will be applied at the pulley'. 143. The centrifugal forceV resulting.- l rfrom the rotation of the receptacle 139 'will now act to throw the water content of the are ticles or fabrics within the containers or baskets 110 radially outward. therefrom,n and Joy into the casing 137. An outlet 146 is formed in the bottom wall of the'casing 137, andl it n preferably opens into a verticalf'boref-147 formedin one of the supportinglegs138., fromV e -the lower end of which the water is drained outwardly through a discharge pipe 148.v To

prevent water within the casingv 137 fromface cumulating about the shaft 140 andzseepingff. downwardlyof the same, an annularflangeor wall of the casing 137 for thepurpose.M

After the extracting 'operationfhassbeenze completed, the several containers or baskets .ridge137 is rsecured in concentrically spaced relation `about the shaftV 140 on the bottom' 110 are now transported to a dryingfapparae tus or tumbler, shown by wayrof example in Figures 11 and 12.

ico

This drying machine or tumbler consists!my generally of Y al Vcasing formed to provide f a lower chamber` 149, inwhichis housed avpluv= y rality of heating elements 150, an intermediate cylindrical'V chamber 151 lhousing 4,a drumH structure, as hereinbeforespecifically described, andan upper air exhausting chamber 152. The upper side of the'heating chamber 149 opens-directly into thelo-wervsideof the drum chamber 1:51, while-fthe upperwall'of 'l' the latter communicates with the upper-exs haustchamber 152 throughfthev-mediumf of f Heat from the chamber 149 andthe heating while a suitable suction fan orthe like`-1f55 is operable in the discharge outlet 156 ofi-the exhaust chamber 152 to evacuate theheated E i airY lf-romhthe latter to atmospheres AccessI will be had to the interior of the drum chama ber 151 through an opening in itsffrontxwall; and this opening will be normally closed byv a closure 157, which 'is hinged, asat158, ,toa-'1 the outer side of oneof the horizontal edge-.y

portions of the'. opening.

n1 making ,use Y of this form of. .drying said drum between eachseries of compartmachine or tumbler, the groups of contain-k ers orbaskets 110` will be nested in the compartments of the drum, through the front opening ofk the intermediate chamber 151, after the manner of the nesting of the saine in the washing machine as heretofore'explained, when the door 157 will be closed, and power applied to one of the shaft sections 104 to impart a rotary movement to the After the drying operation has been completed. the power will be disconnected from the drum, when the containers or baskets 110 will be released and removed from the drum and outwardly of the front opening of the intermediate chamber 151, for subsequent transporting to the packing department or room of the laundry, in the case of dry or damp washes, or to the starching and ironing department or `room in the case of completely finished washes.

To facilitate the carrying out of the method contemplated by the'pinvention, and to effect regularity and uniformity inthehaiidling and transporting of the containers or baskets 110 from the receiving ofice or room of a laundry to the several machines as hereinbefore described, and from thence to the inishing department or room or the packagtion and minor details of construction mayV be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

Having thus fully described the invention,

what is claimed is:

1. In combination, a rotatable drum for laundrymachines and the like, formed to provide a plurality of groups of sectorshaped compartments in circular series about the same, sector-shaped containers for indi- Vvidual groups of fabrics to be laundered adapted to be removably seated within the Y said compartments, and means encircling ments and having movable sections common to companion containers in adjacent compartments for securing the containers in seated position therein.

2. In combination, a rotatable drum for laundry machines and the like, formed to provide a plurality of compartments about the same, containers for individual groups of fabrics to be `laundered. adapted to be nested within each of the said compartments, and

ymeans encircled aboutsaid drum between each offsaid compartments and having movable sections common to companion containers in adjacent compartments for securing the containers in position therein.

3. In a laundry machine or the like, aroy tatable drum formed to provide a plurality of compartments arranged in circular sets about the same, containers adapted to be removably seated within the said compartments, means encircling said drum between Y each circular group of the said compartments and having movable sections common to companion containers in adjacent compartments for securing the same in position therein, and means for securing each of the rst named means in place.

4. The device as set fortliin claim 3, wherein the last named means comprises separate devices on each of the said encircling means for latching the said movable sections in their positions of securement of the containers adjacent thereto.

5. The device as set forth in claim 3, where- Yin cooperative parts of a latching device are carried on adjacent ends of the said movable sections to secure the same in place during the rotation of said drum.

u 6. The device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the said movable sections are arranged in pairs-hinged together at one of their ends vand have parts of the said latching devices at their other ends adapted for cooperation with complemental parts thereof on the similar ends of adjacent movable sections.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

1 i foris n. i-iULLiNcis.V 

